Elsevier

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 73, Issue 5, November 2009, Pages 802-806
Medical Hypotheses

Support for the hypothesis that electro-stimulation is responsible for Lipoatrophia semicircularis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.058Get rights and content

Summary

Lipoatrophia semicircularis (L.s.) is a idiopathic condition characterised by semicircular impressions of the skin, usually at the front and sides of both thighs. It was first described some 35 years ago but only as a case study where a few subjects with L.s. were described. Later on some more cases were diagnosed and described but their number remained low. It is only over the past ten years that an outburst of L.s. was observed. This was first seen in Belgium, later on also in other countries (e.g., Spain) where several hundreds of individuals were diagnosed with L.s. All these subjects belonged to the administrative personnel of diverse companies indicating that this condition is essentially office and job related. Afflicted subjects were mainly women working with computers or with other electrical devices placed on their desk. Furthermore, L.s. was invariably diagnosed after moving into new or renovated office buildings. Hypotheses have been put forward to explain the appearance of L. semicircularis. These hypotheses involve mechanical pressure, blood circulation problems, disturbance of thermal energy exchange and electrostatic discharges or other electric phenomena. In this paper, these hypotheses are considered and new data presented in favour of an “electric” origin of L.s. Earlier published observations on the influence of electric fields from 50 Hz, 230 V electrical cables and cables for data transmission remain valid, whereas other hypotheses seem to be invalidated by experience. The fact that for example electric devices are a constant factor in the appearance of L.s., that the cable type apparently plays an important role as well as the electric conductivity of the desktops on which L.s. subjects are sitting and that the presence of ionisators and the ambient relative humidity also proved to be determinative are arguments that the electric environment is on the origin of the L.s. condition. However, evidence was obtained that L.s. is most probably not related to electrostatic discharges but other phenomena of electro-stimulation are nevertheless possible. For example, formation of atmospheric air ions at the edge of the desk or on dust particles on their surface and consequently charging of the skin followed by discharges in the skin may be proposed as the main cause of L. semicircularis. This means that it is essential to control the electric environment of offices to minimize the risk of L. semicircularis.

Introduction

Lipoatrophia semicircularis was originally described as a rare idiopathic clinical disorder characterised by semicircular impressions of the skin, due to disappearance (atrophy) of the subcutaneous fatty tissue (for a literature review, see [1]). Skin and underlying muscles are not altered. In most of the cases, the lipotrophic region is localized at the anterolateral part of both thighs in a symmetrical way (Fig. 1) but occasionally it is found only on one thigh or on arms or belly. It is usually also found at a height of approximately 72 cm, that is the height of the desktop of office desks. About 85% of afflicted subjects are women.

In the years 1974–1998, the scientific literature was almost exclusively devoted to case studies describing the phenomenon L. semicircularis (e.g., [2], [3], [4]). No description was given of the individual’s occupation, and hypotheses on the origin of this condition were put forward but not substantially investigated. It is only since the outburst of many cases within two large companies in Belgium that the relationship with the individual’s occupation became obvious [1], [5], [6]. Many cases were diagnosed more or less simultaneously some 6 weeks and more after the subjects moved into new or renovated buildings indicating that the origin must be sought in the office environment. Many other companies and institutions were afterwards identified where L.s. also became an important and worrying issue. At present L. semicircularis is well known in many companies in Belgium but also in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, France and Spain. There is no reason to believe that it does not occur in other countries as well.

Section snippets

Possible hypotheses for L. semicircularis

A number of hypotheses were put forward in the literature or investigated in the afflicted companies. They involve the following aspects:

  • Ergonomic factors and local pressure

  • Local traumata (other than pressure)

  • Diseases

  • Indoor pollution

  • Indoor climatic conditions: humidity, temperature

  • Local thermal energy losses

  • Electro-stimulation.

These hypotheses will be briefly discussed below. We will outline why we consider most of them not satisfactory. Our hypothesis on electro-stimulation in conjunction with

Further arguments in favour of electric fields as the main cause of L. semicircularis

Many observations point towards an electric origin of L.s. and hence it is not possible anymore to discard this, at least as a contributing factor in the onset of L.s. Our observations apparently point towards the conjunction of extreme low frequency electric fields (50 Hz, 230 V) from electric cables with data cables as the determinant factor. Above hypothesis of an electromagnetic origin of L. semicircularis was at first a hypothesis of electrostatic discharges (ESD) as the main cause of L.s.

Conclusion

According to the observations it seems obvious that L. semicircularis find its origin in the ‘electric’ environment of modern offices. However, other factors may contribute to the presence or absence of the lipoatrophy. Some findings from preliminary laboratory investigations can be seen as arguments in favour of “electro-hypersensitivity” of subjects with L.s. compared to subjects who do not contract L.s. Adapting the electro-environment of an office can be sufficient to minimize the risk of

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